As the clock struck 11pm on August’s final day, Fikayo Tomori had almost worn a hole in his hotel room carpet from pacing back and forth.

While his England under-21s team-mates were resting up ahead of facing Holland in Doetinchem, the young defender was anxiously waiting for his loan move away from Chelsea to be confirmed. A deal to join Hull City had been agreed in principle yet the late night deadline had arrived without confirmation.

“I was just waiting,” said Tomori. “My agent was saying the manager was also waiting. It was nerve-wracking.”

Only at 11.45pm was Tomori finally confirmed as City’s 11th and final first-team signing of the summer, joining Ola Aina and Michael Hector in a trinity of Chelsea loanees at the KCOM Stadium.

“When it finally went through, it was a big relief as I was getting worried. I think the hold-up was Chelsea waiting to announce the whole thing. It was going to happen, just a case of when. But when it finally went through, I was excited.”

A home debut is likely to come when Sunderland visit the KCOM Stadium this afternoon and a move to East Yorkshire adds another layer to a year like no other for Tomori.

After helping Brighton reach the top-flight for the first time since 1983 during a four-month loan last season, Tomori was part of an England under-20s side that created more history in the summer. In England’s first appearance in the final of a global tournament for 51 years, the 19-year-old played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Venezuela.

Fikayo Tomori (Image: Getty)

“It is still sinking in, to be honest,” said Tomori. “I go a few weeks and don’t hear anything about it but then someone mentions it and that brings it back. Wow, we won the World Cup. For the rest of my life, I will remember it. I don’t think it will ever sink in that I won a World Cup.

“The medal is at home. My mum takes it to work and shows it off to her friends. Hopefully, I will get it back soon. That was crazy, really. Just being part of the squad itself at the World Cup was good but to get through each stage and then winning it was something we could only dream about.

“To actually happen was mad. A great experience, especially as England teams hadn’t won much in a long time. For us to do that was a great achievement and, hopefully, something we can replicate in later age group and the first team as well.”

Read More

Tomori had previously played under-age football for Canada, the country of his birth, but a climb up through the England ranks has already continued this season. Leaving behind Paul Simpson’s under-20s ranks, he made his debut for England’s under-21s as they beat Latvia 3-0 11 days ago.

Tomori will hope to retain his place when England face Scotland and Andorra next month but first he will strive to make an impression on his new club.

Handed a debut in City’s 2-1 loss at Fulham on Wednesday, Tomori was among the highlights of another flat night. Composed and alert, he slotted in smartly on the right edge of a three-man defence.

Read More

“At Chelsea, we played with a three at the back,” he said. “Prior to that in the youth team, I played at right wing back as well as centre back and also the left. Versatility helps me a lot. Wherever the manager decides to play me, I have to do my best.”

Helping City and new boss Leonid Slutsky is the priority but Tomori knows Chelsea are always watching. The club he has represented as a boy has a legion of players out on loan and, much like Aina and Hector, there is a wish to promote his claims back at Stamford Bridge with a successful season on City’s books.

“Making it at Chelsea is the main ambition,” he said. “I have been there since I was eight years old so to make that step and play for the first team is the ultimate goal.

“Chelsea keep in touch, there is a lot of interaction with all the loanees. There is a loan department that keeps in touch with all the players, both at home and abroad.

“People like Eddie Newton and Tore Andre Flo help a lot. The other staff help a lot as well and contact us. They come to visit the loan players and have a chat. It is a really good set up.

“Players like Tammy Abraham have done brilliantly. I am not a striker so I won’t score 26 goals like him but, hopefully, I can have a similar impact on this team.”

An education is underway with City in the second tier and will continue with the visit of Sunderland today.

Two fallen Premier League clubs are in growing need of a victory but Tomori knows what to expect from a tense afternoon.

“It is a very up and down league,” he said. “Win one week, but lose the next. It is all about being consistent.

“It is big boys’ football. A lot more physical and playing against fully grown men, who have been at this level for ten to 15 years. There are a lot of players who you have seen in the Premier League or on TV. Sometimes, that can be a bit surreal.”